To ensure the sustainability of Cameroon’s Elite One and MTN Elite Two football championships, which correspond to the first and second divisions respectively, financial support from the state is essential. Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot), has taken the initiative to call on the relevant authorities regarding this matter.
In a letter addressed to Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, Secretary-General of the Presidency of the Republic, Eto’o officially requested a subsidy to support the organization of the professional championships for the 2024-2025 season.
Dated November 20, 2024, the letter outlines the amount needed to ensure the smooth running of the competitions: a sum of 560,000,000 FCFA, approximately 853,237 euros. Samuel Eto’o also expressed the gratitude of Fecafoot and the Cameroonian football community for the state’s continued commitment to the development of sports. “I kindly request your personal attention to ensure the provision of this subsidy, which is crucial for the organization of the MTN Elite One and MTN Elite Two professional championships,” he wrote.
The 2025 MTN Elite One championship kicked off despite the lack of public funding. On Saturday, at the Melong Stadium, the official opening match of the season took place, featuring Stade Renard de Melong against Aigle Royal de Nkongsamba, which ended in a goalless draw (0-0). Samuel Eto’o, president of Fecafoot, and Rigobert Song, head coach of the Indomitable Lions, were present to mark the occasion.
The enthusiasm of the crowd was so intense that some spectators climbed trees to get a better view of the match, highlighting the deep passion for local football.
Under the leadership of Samuel Eto’o, Fecafoot has set a clear ambition: to make this season of MTN Elite One and MTN Elite Two one of the most memorable in the history of Cameroonian football. The goal is to professionalize the national championships, a vision that requires a strong financial foundation. The requested state subsidy, if granted, could play a crucial role in achieving this objective, especially as several clubs are facing significant delays in salary payments.
On the continental stage, Cameroon currently ranks 19th in CAF’s five-year championship ranking. Since the introduction of the new CAF Champions League format, no Cameroonian team has managed to reach the knockout stages. In fact, one must go back to 2013 to find Coton Sport among Africa’s top four teams. The challenge for Fecafoot is, therefore, immense.
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